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Mueller Requests Trove Of Documents From Justice Department

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s latest request for documents from the Department of Justice should scare the hell out of President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

According to ABC News, Mueller has told the Justice Department he wants information, files, memos, and emails related to the firing of FBI Director James Comey and Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia matter:

“Issued within the past month, the directive marks the special counsel’s first records request to the Justice Department, and it means Mueller is now demanding documents from the department overseeing his investigation.

“Mueller’s investigators now seek not only communications between Justice Department officials themselves, but also any communications with White House counterparts, the source said. Before this request, investigators asked former senior Justice Department officials for information from their time at the department, ABC News was told.”

This demand for documents suggests that Mueller is actively seeking information for charging Trump and possibly Sessions for obstruction of justice in the dismissal of Comey.

In October, the attorney general said he would be willing to cooperate with Mueller’s probe in any way possible, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“I want him to complete his investigation professionally.”

Trump, however, has repeatedly criticized Mueller’s investigation of possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 campaign, calling the entire matter “a witch hunt.”

What makes the document request potentially even more troubling for the administration is that it would seem to indicate that Sessions is also under scrutiny for his role in pushing Comey out at the FBI. ABC notes:

“Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein played key roles in Comey’s removal. And Sessions has since faced withering criticism from Trump over his recusal and Rosenstein’s subsequent appointment of Mueller.”

And Sessions is again on the hot seat for contradictory testimony he has given under oath at his confirmation hearing and later when he appeared before Congressional committees. Just last week, the AG repeatedly said he couldn’t remember or recall meetings with Russian officials, despite evidence that he was present when such matters were allegedly discussed.